January15, 2016

Washington, D.C. — This week, the House Judiciary Committee announced the creation of a Task Force on Executive Overreach to examine the historical breakdown of the separation of powers and checks and balances. In recent years, unconstitutional Executive Overreach has led to an unparalleled increase in presidential power.

The task force’s primary initiative will be to study the impact that increased presidential and executive power has the ability of Congress to conduct oversight of the executive branch, the lack of transparency that further unchecked executive power and the constitutional requirement of the President to faithfully execute the law. The task force will evaluate the tools at Congress’s disposal to ensure a full restoration of the proper balance of power and hold the executive branch accountable. It will also make recommendations, acknowledging deficiencies and suggesting legislative solutions.

Congressman Poe issued the following statement on the creation of and his appointment to the task force.

Congressman Poe: “This Administration treats the Constitution as a mere suggestion, not the law of the land. Congress shall make all laws; the Judiciary interprets these laws, and the President enforces the laws of the land. Our country’s framers purposely set these rules in place over 200 years ago. After being suppressed by an all-powerful king, they knew first hand that the concentration of power in one individual’s hands is a threat to liberty. Executive orders have allowed Presidents from both parties to legislate from the Oval Office. This threatens the ability of the legislative branch to ‘check’ the White House. This idea of checks and balances is the foundation that our country was built upon.

The House Judiciary Committee’s Task Force on Executive Overreach will study this unsettling trend and look for solutions to prevent the executive branch from transcending its constitutional authority. The separation of powers and its checks and balances are designed to protect individual liberties and ensure prosperity for future generations to come.”